Bullet alarm

ABSTRACT

A firearm safety device in the size and shape of ammunition is inserted in the chamber of a firearm. The safety device produces an audible alarm when the firearm is moved or handled, thus signaling a warning sound that the firearm is being moved or handled. The safety device, when it is inserted in the chamber of the firearm, further helps to prevent accidental discharge of the firearm by replacing a live round of ammunition.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to alarms and in particular an alarmhaving an audible signal for signaling unwanted handling of a firearmwhen the firearm is moved from one position to another position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There have been some devices and apparatus developed to sound an alarmwhen a weapon is mishandled. There are also a number of devices designedto minimize accidental discharges of firearms. The present inventionrelates to a alarm system which can be placed in the chamber of a weaponwhich will become activated if the weapon is moved or picked up, forexample, by a young child.

The alarm offers several advantages which include that it is the shapeof a bullet and can fit into the chamber of the weapon whether it be apistol, rifle or shotgun. The invention has the advantage that thebullet alarm is loaded into the chamber and this provides an extrasafety factor in that a live round is not in the chamber. This isespecially useful in semiautomatic weapons where action of the roundexploding is used to cock the weapon and reload for the next round. Ifthe alarm does not frighten the person that has picked up the weaponsuch as a child, certain weapons will not operate even if the trigger ispulled because the firing pin will fall onto the alarm rather than alive round. Of course, the alarm is also useful to alert the movement ofa weapon whether are not the weapon is loaded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A firearm safety device in the shape and size of ammunition and isinserted into the chamber of a firearm. The device comprises a housingshaped to fit into the chamber of a firearm having a power source whichelectrically connects, and provides power, to an alarm circuit when thefirearm is moved from one position to another position. When the firearmis moved, a position responsive switch closes, or becomes activated,whereby the power source is electrically connected to, and operates, thealarm circuit. The alarm circuit produces an electrical signal whichdrives an audio speaker, which in turn, produces an audible noiseindicating the firearm has been moved or handled.

In another embodiment, the firearm safety device also includes a poweror actuator switch which prevents the alarm circuit from operating eventhough the position responsive switch may become activated by movementof the firearm. When the power switch closes, it allows the alarmcircuit to operate when the position responsive switch is activated. Thepower switch becomes closed (or activated) by insertion of the safetydevice into the chamber of the firearm or by an on/off switch which ismanually operated and located on the firearm safety device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the invention in the form of a shotgun shell;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the two-piece housing of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is an end view along line 3--3 of the alarm circuit housingshowing the contact areas.

FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment showing the on/off switch.

FIG. 4A is an end view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the housing showing one orientation of theposition responsive switch located in the housing.

FIG. 5A is a side view of the housing showing an alternative orientationof the position responsive switch located in the housing.

FIG. 5B is a top view of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the circuitry of the present invention of the audiblefirearm alarm. In the figures, like numbers are used for correspondingelements. The circuit is sized to fit into the chamber of a pistol,rifle or shotgun. It is of importance to note that the alarm can be invarious shapes and sizes of ammunition for the types of firearmsavailable.

In the preferred embodiment, the alarm contains power source 12 whichprovides a source of electrical power to alarm circuit 18. Power source12 can be a battery. Power source 12 is electrically connected to powerswitch 14 via conductor 20. Power switch 14 is electrically connected toposition responsive switch 16 via conductor 22. Power switch 14 is notrequired but is preferred. Switch 16 is electrically connected viaconductor 24 to alarm circuit 18. Power source 12, switch 14 and switch16 function to provide a power source to alarm circuit 18 when switches14 and 16 are closed. When switch 14 and/or switch 16 are not activated,the circuitry in FIG. 1 is open, thereby not having a closed circuit.Switch 14 typically acts like an energizing switch thereby preventingthe power source 12 to be electrically connected to alarm circuit 18even when switch 16 is closed. This allows the alarm to be handledwithout sounding until the alarm is placed in the firearm. Both switch14 and switch 16 must be closed in order for the power source 12 to beelectrically connected to alarm circuit 18. The advantage of havingpower switch 14 in the circuitry is that it prevents operation of thealarm circuit, thus preventing operation of the alarm circuit 18 untilthe appropriate time which is determined by the user, such as when thefirearm alarm is inserted in the chamber of the firearm or when the userturns the power source "on". Switch 14 may be located anywhere withinthe circuitry as discussed below.

Referring to FIG. 2 is shown one embodiment of the alarm 10. The alarm10 is contained in the two-piece housing 78 having a power sourcehousing 80 and alarm circuit housing 82. In the preferred embodiment,power source 12 is a D.C. battery and power switch 14 comprises anextension 60 which closes power switch 14 by insertion of alarm 10 intothe chamber of the firearm. When inserted, extension 60 is depressedwhen it contacts the inner wall of the chamber of the firearm, thusclosing power switch 14 and providing an electrical path betweenconductor 20 and conductor 22. With reference to FIG. 3, in thepreferred embodiment, power source 12 is contained within a chamber inpower source housing 80. Power source housing 80 further containsthreads 62 and electrical contacts 64 and 66 thereon. The power sourcehousing may be disposable, such that the whole housing is replaced whenthe battery is low. Alternatively, the power source can bereplaceable/removable by providing a screw cap 13. Power source housing80 may be threaded into alarm circuit housing 82, thus providing a powersource to the circuitry located in alarm circuit housing 82. Theadvantage of enabling power source housing 80 containing power source 12to be threaded into alarm circuit housing 82 is that it provides aneconomical way to replace the battery when it gets low on power.Additionally, power source housing 80 may also have a mechanism whichindicates the battery is low on power, such as a "low battery"indication light, or a piezo beeper which produces an audible signalindicating a "low battery".

Alarm circuit housing 82 has receiving threads 72 to receive powersource housing 80. Within the threaded receiving area 74 are contacts 68and 70. With additional reference to FIG. 3A, contact 70 is anelectrically conductive contact located approximately in the center ofarea 74. Contact 68 is generally a concentric circle also made ofelectrically conductive material. As power source housing 80 is threadedinto alarm circuit housing 82, contact 66 makes contact with contact 70while contact 64 also comes into contact with contact 68. Thus, whenpower source housing 80 is screwed into alarm circuit housing 82, alarmcircuit 18 has a source of electrical power.

Within power source housing 80, power source 12 is electricallyconnected to contact 64 via conductor 90. Power source 12 is alsoconnected to conductor 20. Extension 60, when depressed, providescontact between conductor 20 and conductor 92, thereby closing switch 14and providing electrical connection between power source 12 and contact66. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, conductor 92, contact 66, contact70 and conductor 98 all form the electrical conductor 22 in FIG. 1.Additionally, conductor 90, contact 64, contact 68 and conductor 96 allform the electrical conductor 26 in FIG. 1.

In an alternative embodiment, power switch 14 is shown as on/off switch76 in FIG. 4 and FIG. 4A. On/off switch 76 can be manually operated,thus closing power switch 14, providing an electrical path between powersource 12 and switch 16. On/off switch 76 is shown located in a recesson the rear of 77 of power source housing 80. The rear 77 of the powersource housing 80 preferably is provided with index mark 81 whichindicates the orientation where the motion switch 16 will be open.

In the preferred embodiment, extension 60 is located extending frompower source housing 80, but may be located extending from alarm circuithousing 82. Additionally, on/off switch 76 may be utilized in lieu ofextension 60 to close power switch 14 and also may be located on powersource housing 80 or alarm circuit housing 82.

In the preferred embodiment, position responsive switch 16 and alarmcircuit 18 are contained within alarm circuit housing 82. Switch 16 canbe any type of switch which responds to movement, such as a mercuryswitch, which structures and operation are well known in the art. Switch16 sometimes is referred to as an actuator switch. Switch 16 provides afirst output (open) when the firearm is in one position and a secondoutput (closed) when the firearm is moved to another position. Switch 16enables the power source 12 to be electrically connected to alarmcircuit 18 when switch 16 is closed. Switch 16 is activated by movement,thereby becoming closed in response to movement of the firearm whenalarm 10 is in the chamber of the firearm. Therefore, when the firearmcontains alarm 10 and the firearm is moved, the power source becomeselectrically connected to the alarm circuit which produces an audiblesignal, as will be discussed in the next paragraph.

With reference to FIGS. 5, 5A and 5B, switch 16 is mounted within alarmcircuit housing 82 with a set screw 17. Switch 16 is pivotally orrotatably mounted on set screw 17. Set screw 17 is attached to alarmcircuit housing 82 and extends outward in a recess to allow angularadjustment of switch 16. This allows switch 16 to be rotated or pivotedin relation to the body of the alarm. The advantage of having switch 16mounted in such a way is to allow the alarm to be use in firearms whichare placed in storage in a vertical position, such as a rifle orshotgun. When the alarm is inserted in a firearm to be stored in avertical position, switch 16 must be rotated to a position substantiallyperpendicular to the axial position of the firearm. This is showngenerally in FIG. 5A. The head of set screw 17 can be used to indicateorientation of switch 16.

With reference to FIG. 1, alarm circuit 18 has integrated circuit U1.Switch 16 is electrically connected via conductor 24 to resistor 30 andpin 8 and pin 4 of U1. Resistor 30 is also connected to resistor 32 andpin 6 of U1. Resistor 32 is connected to pin 6 and pin 7 and pin 2 of U1and also to capacitor 34. Capacitor 38 is connected to pin 3 of U1 andto resistor 40. Resistor 40 is also connected to capacitor 42 andnegative conductor 26. Capacitor 42 is connected to audio speaker 44.Audio speaker 44, pin 1 of U1, and capacitor 34 are all connected tonegative conductor 26 which is also connected to power source 12.

The values of the discrete electrical components of the circuitry inFIG. 1 may be any value which accomplishes the desired objects of theinvention. A person of ordinary skill in the art can select theappropriate values of components to produce the desired objects of theinvention. Typically, U1 is an SK 3564 timer oscillator, or any discretecomponents, circuitry, integrated circuit, or any combination of theforegoing which is equivalent or which accomplishes the objects of theinvention. Alarm circuit 18 and switch 16 are preferably contained inalarm circuit housing 82.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, power source 12 is electricallyconnected through switch 14 and switch 16 to alarm circuit 18. Switch 16is activated thereby closing the circuitry in FIG. 1 (assuming switch 14is also closed) in response to movement of the firearm when firearmalarm 10 is in situ therein. Power source 12 becomes electricallyconnected to alarm circuit 18 when switch 14 and switch 16 are closed.Alarm circuit 18 becomes operational and produces an electrical signalhaving a frequency in the range of approximately 300 hertz (Hz) to 10kilohertz (KHz). This electrical signal is then converted into anaudible signal via speaker 44. Speaker 44 produces a loud audible signalwhich can be detected by a human. Alternatively, the audible signal maybe produced by a piezoelectric transducer, piezo loudspeaker or crystalloudspeaker. Therefore, in order to produce the audible signal, powerswitch 14 is closed by insertion of alarm 10 into the chamber or byturning the power "on" via on/off switch 76, and switch 16 becomesactivated (closed) by movement of the firearm which has firearm alarm 10in its chamber. Alternatively, on/off switch 14 may be discarded and thesounding of the alarm controlled only by the orientation of the alarm.

This invention may be produced in various sizes and shapes in the formof ammunition for various pistols, shotguns, and rifles as showngenerally in FIGS. 2 and 3.

It will obvious to those skilled in the art that many alterations andmodifications may be made to the described invention without departingfrom the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all suchalterations and modifications be considered within the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A firearm safety device, comprising:(a) a housing adapted tobe received into a chamber of a firearm; (b) a position responsiveswitch enclosed within said housing, said switch having a first outputwhen in a first position, and a second output when in a second position;(c) an alarm circuit connected to said switch for powering a speaker;(d) a speaker attached to said housing and electrically connected tosaid circuit for producing an audible alarm when the firearm is movedfrom a first position to a second position and (e) a power sourcecontained within said housing to supply electrical power to said switchand said circuit.
 2. The device as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising a power switch for energizing the device for operation. 3.The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said position responsive switchis a mercury switch,
 4. The device as recited in claim 2, furthercomprising a set screw whereby said position responsive switch ismounted to said set screw to allow for rotation or pivot of saidposition responsive switch.
 5. The device as recited in claim 3 furthercomprising a set screw pivotally attached to said housing and furtherattached to said position responsive switch whereby rotation of said setscrew changes the orientation of said position responsive switch,
 6. Asafety device for insertion into a chamber of a firearm, comprising:(a)a power source; (b) a power switch connected to said power source, saidpower switch being activated when the safety device is inserted into thechamber of the firearm; (c) an actuator switch activated in response tomovement of the firearm and connected to said power switch; and (d) analarm circuit for producing an audio alarm signal when said power switchand said actuator switch are both activated thereby connecting saidpower source to said alarm circuit.
 7. The device as recited in claim 6,wherein said actuator switch is a mercury switch.
 8. The device asrecited in claim 6, wherein said power switch includes a contact memberextending from the safety device whereby said contact member activatessaid power switch when the safety device is inserted into the chamber ofthe firearm.
 9. The device as recited in claim 8, further comprising aset screw engaging said actuator switch whereby the position of saidactuator switch is changed when said set screw is rotated.
 10. A firearmsafety device, comprising:(a) a housing adapted to be received into achamber of a firearm; (b) a position responsive switch enclosed withinsaid housing, said switch having a first output when in a firstposition, and a second output when in a second position; (c) an alarmcircuit connected to said switch for powering a speaker; (d) a speakerattached to said housing and electrically connected to said circuit forproducing an audible alarm when the firearm is moved from a firstposition to a second position; (e) a power source contained within saidhousing to supply electrical power to said switch and said circuit; and(f) a power switch for energizing the device for operation, said powerswitch activating and energizing the device when the device is receivedin the chamber of the firearm.
 11. The device as recited in claim 10,further comprising a set screw engaging said position responsive switchwhereby the position of said position responsive switch is changed whensaid set screw is rotated.
 12. A firearm safety device, comprising:(a) ahousing adapted to be received into a chamber of a firearm; (b) aposition responsive switch enclosed within said housing, said switchhaving a first output when in a first position, and a second output whenin a second position; (c) an alarm circuit connected to said switch forpowering a speaker; (d) a speaker attached to said housing andelectrically connected to said circuit for producing an audible alarmwhen the firearm is moved from a first position to a second position;(e) a power source contained within said housing to supply electricalpower to said switch and said circuit; and (f) a power switch forenergizing the device for operation, said power switch including acontact member extending from the safety device whereby said contactmember activates said power switch when the safety device is inserted inthe chamber of the firearm.
 13. The device as recited in claim 12,further comprising a set screw pivotally attached to said housing andfurther attached to said position responsive switch whereby rotation ofsaid set screw changes the orientation of said position responsiveswitch.